256 



Sciophila, as described by several writers, corresponds with that of 

 Lcia and B.xcchia, as well as with other described genera of Myceto- 

 philinae, in having lateral openings on abdominal segments 1-7. There 

 is however an illustrated published description by Schmitz of the larva 

 of a European species of Polylepta that shows no abdominal spiracles. 

 I have not the larva of Polylepta, which appears to form a connecting 

 link between this subfamily and Platyuridae. Osten Sacken states 

 that the abdominal spiracles in the species of Sciophila known to him 

 were very small, which would seem to indicate a step towards their 

 ultimate elimination as functional organs. Du four's description and 

 figures of a species of the same genus represent the spiracles as large, 

 the thoracic pair bifid. I have only an exuvium, and give no data on 

 this point. 



CHARACTERS OF SUBFAMILY 



Ibarra. — Head elongate; maxillary palpi well developed in Sci- 

 ophila only; cephalic sclerites contiguous medianly on anterior half 

 of their ventral surface, but widely separated on the posterior half. 

 Body very slender; spiracles present on abdominal segments in 

 Sciophila, absent in Polylepta. 



Pupa. — Stout. Head without protuberances; palpi curved for- 

 ward on their apical halves; antennae curved over upper margin of 

 eyes, extending to middle of wing. Thorax declivitous anteriorly; 

 respiratory organs slightly elevated ; wings extending to apex of third 

 abdominal segment; legs parallel, the tips of tarsi reaching to apex 

 of seventh abdominal segment. Abdominal spiracles slightly elevated, 

 absent on first segment in species before me. 



Juiago. — Distinguished from Mycetophilinae by the furcate third 

 vein, the anterior branch leaving the posterior at right angles and 

 joining the second vein in similar manner, thus forming a subquad- 

 rate or elongate closed cell. 



PoLYLKPTA Winnertz 



The larva of one species of this genus, which occurs in caves in 

 Europe, has been described by Schmitz*. This species, P. Icptogastcr, 

 has !)een recorded from North America, and a summary of the de- 

 scrijition is given herewith as the original publication is not generally 

 available in this country. 



As indicated previously, the larva has no lateral abdominal spira- 

 cles, which h at variance with the rule in Mycetophilidae. 



*Xatuihi,st. Genootsehap in Limburg, Jaarboek, 1912, 4th Note. 



